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Culture-specific approach to the study of individualism/collectivism

1996; Wiley; Volume: 26; Issue: 2 Linguagem: Inglês

10.1002/(sici)1099-0992(199603)26

1099-0992

Encho N. Gerganov, Margarita L. Dilova, Kristina Petkova, Elena Paspalanova,

Social and Intergroup Psychology

European Journal of Social PsychologyVolume 26, Issue 2 p. 277-297 Research Article Culture-specific approach to the study of individualism/collectivism Encho N. Gerganov, Encho N. Gerganov Institute of Sociology, 13-A Moskovska Str., Sofia 1000, BulgariaSearch for more papers by this authorMargarita L. Dilova, Margarita L. Dilova Institute of Sociology, 13-A Moskovska Str., Sofia 1000, BulgariaSearch for more papers by this authorKristina G. Petkova, Corresponding Author Kristina G. Petkova Institute of Psychology, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, BulgariaInstitute of Sociology, 13-A Moskovska Str., Sofia 1000, BulgariaSearch for more papers by this authorElena P. Paspalanova, Elena P. Paspalanova Institute of Sociology, 13-A Moskovska Str., Sofia 1000, BulgariaSearch for more papers by this author Encho N. Gerganov, Encho N. Gerganov Institute of Sociology, 13-A Moskovska Str., Sofia 1000, BulgariaSearch for more papers by this authorMargarita L. Dilova, Margarita L. Dilova Institute of Sociology, 13-A Moskovska Str., Sofia 1000, BulgariaSearch for more papers by this authorKristina G. Petkova, Corresponding Author Kristina G. Petkova Institute of Psychology, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, BulgariaInstitute of Sociology, 13-A Moskovska Str., Sofia 1000, BulgariaSearch for more papers by this authorElena P. Paspalanova, Elena P. Paspalanova Institute of Sociology, 13-A Moskovska Str., Sofia 1000, BulgariaSearch for more papers by this author First published: March/April 1996 https://doi.org/10.1002/(SICI)1099-0992(199603)26:2 3.0.CO;2-0Citations: 7AboutPDF ToolsRequest permissionExport citationAdd to favoritesTrack citation ShareShare Give accessShare full text accessShare full-text accessPlease review our Terms and Conditions of Use and check box below to share full-text version of article.I have read and accept the Wiley Online Library Terms and Conditions of UseShareable LinkUse the link below to share a full-text version of this article with your friends and colleagues. Learn more.Copy URL Share a linkShare onEmailFacebookTwitterLinkedInRedditWechat Abstract Studies in individualism/collectivism (Triandis, McCusker & Hui, 1990) have revealed a considerable cultural connotation of the phenomena. The aim of our investigation was to develop a cross-culturally equivalent psychometric instrument for measuring individualistic versus collectivistic orientation on the basis of the shared representation of individualism/collectivism among Bulgarians. By applying the psychosemantic methodology we extracted seven concepts which form the individualism/collectivism dimension. The proposed instrument, labelled Bulgarian individualism/collectivism (BIC) scale, consists of a preference choice between the two words in every possible pair of the seven words. Validation studies included investigation of the relationship between the BIC scale and value orientation, between the BIC scale and general views of society and political preferences, and between the BIC scale and behavioural intentions such as the intention to start a business of one's own, the intention to emigrate, and the choice of professional vocation. Results were compared with the relationship of these variables to other measures of individualism/collectivism (scales of Triandis and Brown). The results suggest that the BIC scale reveals a more global orientation, whereas the other scales are concerned with specific everyday behaviours. A comparison between Bulgarian and American samples revealed some specificity in the Bulgarian social representation of individualism/collectivism, which can be explained by the extremely collectivistic norms of the former communist society in Bulgaria. References Adorno, T., Frenkel-Brunswik, E., Lewinson, D. J., & Sanford, R. (1950). The authoritarian personality. New York: Harper. Google Scholar Arendt, H. (1966). The origins of totalitarianism. New York: A. Harvest/H. B. J. Book. Google Scholar Berdyaev, N. (1937). The origins of Russian communism. (Iztochnizi na ruskija communisam). Fakel, 2, 171–195. Google Scholar Berry, J. W. (1969). On cross-cultural comparativity. 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